Adopt a Citizen Card
As history has demonstrated repeatedly, giving government too much authority is a dangerous thing to do. In the last century alone, governments around the world murdered over 150 million people.
This is not a misprint. During the 20th century, over 150 million citizens were murdered by their own government. These deaths were in addition to casualties related to war. The 150 million deaths were the result of genocide — the killing of civilians by one's government. They were killed because they were the wrong gender, the wrong age, the wrong social class, the wrong ethnicity, or they believed in the wrong God or political philosophy.
The major offenders were Russia, China, and NAZI Germany. However, dozens of lesser offenders killed between a few hundred thousand to 2 million citizens each.
Authors and philosophers have coined the term "Big Brother" to represent the condition in which government is in the position to overpower its people. Sparked by the "big brother" theme of several successful books and movies, those who are paying attention fear the notion of runaway government and its inherent consequences.
The "Big Brother" Myth in America
Runaway government is certainly possible in America, but not for the reasons that we think. Contrary to popular opinion, government becoming aggressive and seizing power is not possible in America for at least five reasons. First, citizens are protected by the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment grants citizens the right to own and bear arms.
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We must realize that in every case where government has committed atrocities against its people, the people were unarmed. It is simply not feasible for government to overpower its citizens when they are able to defend themselves against tyranny.
For this reason alone, the Second Amendment must not be repealed or abridged.
Second, in every case where government has committed atrocities against its people, the military was comprised of professionals as opposed to citizens volunteering to serve their country.
For this reason, the military must remain voluntary, with limited service being the rule.
Third, in every case where government has committed atrocities against its people, society was comprised of multiple classes.
For this reason, America must discourage division in all its forms. We must work to unite the public under one American culture.
Fourth, in every case where government has committed atrocities against its people, government was not a republic. Instead, it was either a democracy where oppression was administered by the masses (those in the majority) or an oligarchy where oppression was administered by a few that had unlimited power (no constitution to restrict them).
For this reason, leaders must dispel the notion that America is a democracy. America is not nor has it ever been a democracy. If America were a democracy, the citizen majority would make the rules. In America, the citizen majority has absolutely no power after elections are over. This lack of authority prevents the masses from running wild and all over those in the minority. This one feature is the distinguishing characteristic of a republic. Our leaders must continually remind citizens that America is a republic and not a democracy. In a republic, the citizen majority does not make the rules. Members of the House and Senate represent their district or state (not individuals) and therefore all the people equally, eliminating oppression and tyranny of citizens who are unpopular or who are outnumbered.
These four characteristics were absent in all the countries where citizens were murdered by their government. These characteristics were absent as well in every book and movie portraying a future where government overpowers the people. In not one fictional story are the people allowed to own and carry weapons. In not one story is the military voluntary. In not one story do the people live in a one-class society. In not one story is government a republic.
Fifth, specific features imbedded in the U.S. Constitution prevents leadership from absconding power. A bicameral Congress, three branches of government and regular elections create a balance of power between the people, the States, the judiciary and the federal government. In addition, a difficult and lengthy Amendment process insures that power ultimately rests in the hands of the people, requiring the support of an overwhelming majority over the course of several election cycles.
A 75% majority (not just a simple majority) of states is required to ratify any change to the Constitution initiated by Congress.
In America (as in any republic based on a one-class society with a voluntary military and an armed citizenry), the only way we can be overrun by government is if we become dependent on it. In other words, in America, only if we become dependent on government for sustenance will "Big Brother" rear its ugly head.
Yet that is exactly what we have been doing. Today, over 60% of the population is dependent on government for sustenance. Medicaid, Medicare, Welfare, subsidized housing, free medical care, subsidized day care, government paid abortions, food stamps, drug paraphernalia, and free school breakfasts and lunches have trained the public to become dependent on "their check."
Analysis...
Analysis
Our fear of Big Brother is wholly misdirected. While we are unnecessarily guarding against invasion through the front door, we have left the back door wide open and invited government in. Yes, we must prevent Big Brother from overpowering us, but we will succeed only if citizens become self-reliant.
The Way to Self-reliance
Teaching the value of becoming self-reliant is a critical first step. However, awareness will not be enough to insure that people will do the right thing and free themselves from the promise of free goods and services. If we are to reduce the threat of big government (from walking in through the back door), we must insist that citizens make responsible choices and work diligently to become self-reliant.
Specifically, if we are to free ourselves from the threat of Big Brother, we must accomplish three goals simultaneously.
We must prevent non-citizens from voting. Non-citizens have no
allegiance to America. As such, they will surely vote for more free goods and services.
We must distinguish citizens that truly need public support from those that are taking advantage of the taxpayers.
There are people on welfare getting tummy-tucks and breast implants. Most people that receive food stamps drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and dine out regularly. People that can't afford to pay for their medical care are making car payments instead of driving an older car. They have money for concert tickets, premium cable channels, the latest cell phones with extra minutes, and expensive electronics.
It is immoral for someone that needs public support to make decisions that will affect those supporting them. As such, citizens on public support must not be allowed to vote until they are self-sufficient.
We need for citizens to think twice before they ask for public support. If they really need help, they should have the humility to suspend their right to vote until they become self-reliant.
Solution...
There is but One Solution
Only a universal form of identification will achieve all three goals, leading to the resolution of many social problems. Naturally, we should expect the philosophers and pundits to equate a means of identification with Big Brother. However, analysis reveals that our vigilance in guarding against a fictitious villain has given us a false sense of security while lulling us to sleep. In guarding against the "boogey man," we have overlooked the only real threat to our liberties.
A means of identification will not lead to Big Brother for the five reasons cited in this analysis. On the contrary, only not employing a means of identification will guarantee that government will overpower us. Without some means of identification to encourage self-reliance and curb abuse, the dependency class will continue to grow. As it does, so must government. Bigger government means greater and greater debt requiring higher taxes and more rules, resulting invariably in the dreaded future we all fear.
Sure, an identification card allows for the possibility that government will become even more powerful and invasive. However, life is all about weighing risk against reward. Every time we get into a car, we risk injury and death, yet the odds of reaping the reward from driving significantly outweighs the minimal risk. Similarly, the risk associated with an identification card is far exceeded by the risk of not adopting one.
The Benefits of a Citizen Identification Card
Imagine if a Citizen ID card were required when registering to vote, and that it was imprinted with the next 10 even-numbered years (a 20-year period indicating election years). Imagine also that the next election year on the ID card is punched if the citizen is convicted of a felony or if the citizen receives public assistance.
For example, if a person were convicted of a felony, one or more election years would be punched, preventing the felon from registering to vote in those years. Similarly, if a person received pubic assistance during the year, the year of the next elections would be punched, disqualifying the individual from being able to register to vote.
Those who ask for public assistance should have the humility to not expect to make decisions for the ones paying the bills. Imagine a roommate who cannot pay his share of the rent but who still thinks he should tell the other roommates how to spend their money.
A Citizen Identification Card that is not punched would indicate three things: (1) Citizenship, (2) Self-sufficiency and (3) Adherence to society's fair and equitable laws.
A Citizen ID Card will need to be adopted if we are to prevent non-citizens from voting and if we are to encourage citizens to become self-sufficient and not look to government for support.
